January 29, 2019

The Office of ULM Online is pleased to announce the Master's in Counseling has been
recognized as one of the top 20 programs in the country, according to HumanServicesEdu.org. The ULM Online program is a Master of Science in Counseling with a concentration
in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

HumanServicesEdu.org writes about the changing academic world and the rapid expansion
of getting an online education, stating in part, "If you’re hoping to make a career
out of counseling, getting a master’s degree is going to be a requirement no matter
how busy or complicated your life might be.

"ULM Online is composed of many fine academic graduate programs, among them Counseling
stands out. This group of faculty is innovative and student centered, and deserving
of this recognition for their efforts," said Katie Dawson, Interim Director of ULM
Online.

In evaluating the different programs, HumanServicesEdu.org researched the intrinsic
value of a program, such as specialty tracks, the number of online courses a program
has and accreditation.

David Hale, Ph.D., LMFT-S, Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and
Director of the Online Ph.D. MFT Program, said the recognition of the Counseling program
is a benefit to all.

"We are excited to receive this kind of recognition. Not only does it highlight ULM's
Counseling Program, it reflects the value of the Counseling program both academically
and financially. Our reputation is built on the strength and quality of our faculty
members and the fact that we are affordable," Hall said.

Shushma Krishnamurthy, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate School is pleased with the work
of the counseling faculty and the growth of the program.

"This is very exciting news! Our Counseling program is a quality, longstanding, established
program. The counseling faculty work closely with the students, which is why it is
so successful," Krishnamurthy said. "Counseling students take the national, standardized CPCE
test (Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination ). Our 100% pass rate speaks
for itself. The online format of the program and value for money are very attractive,
which is also why the program has grown substantially over the past five years. What's
not to like about that! We have a winning combination of quality and price."